Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyers
by Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer – Attorney – H. Michael Steinberg
The Constitutional Right To A Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer – The Most Basic Right
Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyers know that one if not the most precious right we have in our country is the constitutional right to retain or to have appointed a criminal defense lawyer. A lawyer to provide an aggressive defense against the government‘s accusations of wrongdoing in the form of criminal charges. The founders of country knew that the criminal justice system only works fairly if every person, from the wealthy to the less fortunate, is represented by a competent and effective lawyer.
Notwithstanding this vital constitutional right some still feel that retaining a Colorado criminal defense lawyer will make them “look guilty.” Contrary to the reality of a criminal justice system that is complex, constantly changing and containing thousands of court rules, procedural and evidence laws, and decades of legal precedents, they maintain that the police, prosecutors, judges have their “best interests at heart.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
The extensive paper work, the court pleadings and court or jury trials are extremely complex – a simple mistake can lead to dire – life changing consequences. When facing criminal charges in Colorado you are facing the risk of consequences that may well beyond your understanding or life experience.
An experienced and seasoned criminal defense lawyer’s sole responsibility is to his or her client – it is a duty to zealously, passionately, aggressively and fearlessly represent their client – securing the best potential outcome in their – and only their case.
The Impact Of A Well Known – Well Respected – Colorado Criminal Defense Attorney
When an experienced local and well respected lawyer walks into court – local prosecutors and judges are on immediate notice that the defendant is serious about defending his or her case. The adversarial system – the war between the parties- has begun and the retention of the seasoned criminal defense lawyer puts all involved on notice that this man or woman will not be taken advantage of, – that he or she is well represented and is not going to settle for the quick fix … that any settlement will be well investigated and examined – and if necessary the case will go to trial.
Even an inexperienced young criminal defense attorney will compel the DA and the Court to follow due process – the basic rules of fairness in the court system. “Pro Se” or unrepresented defendants that come into court face prosecutors and judges who frequently take advantage of their ignorance – most of the time its unintentional – but sometimes it is in the interests of “moving the docket.” For example – in domestic violence cases – the Colorado Fast Track procedure is designed precisely to take advantage of a defendant’s lack of sleep – anxiety – and ignorance to coerce and unrepresented defendant.
Unrepresented defendants – unaware of the court’s procedures and of Colorado criminal law may be sentenced to unnecessary and inappropriate fines and costs, probation conditions and perhaps even a punitive sentence such as jail or prison.
Whether or not the criminal charges filed against that have any substance, the Colorado criminal justice system does not allow for major mistakes on behalf of the defendant… with … or without a criminal defense lawyer. Those that represent themselves are left completely alone yo navigate through the complicated process that follows a criminal complaint. Judges and their staffs are prohibited by Colorado law from giving legal advice – that much becomes very clear – very quickly.
There is no question that the best of Colorado’s criminal defense attorneys do help their clients get the best results. While there will always be some cases where the best resolution may be the same – with – or without – a criminal defense lawyer. However, a lower sentence as a result of a plea bargain to a lower charge is usually the MINIMUM impact the criminal defense lawyer can have on the resolution of a case.
Experienced and seasoned Colorado criminal defense attorneys may be able to negotiate agreements that result in:
• A “no jail” result – no jail or prison time.
• A reduced term (length) of sentence or of probation.
• Reduced fines or costs – or both.
• No criminal record – (a deferred prosecution, deferred judgment, diversion, or other similar first offender programs).
• The dismissal of the charges due to a constitutional violation.
• The suppression of evidence based on a constitutional or other law violation.
• A reversal on appeal.
FAQ: What Should I Ask the Attorney Before I Hire Him?
The questions you should ask will vary with your case. Consider the following list to be a starting point:
What is your area or what are your areas of specialization?
Is there a cost for the initial consultation?
Have you handled cases like mine before? How often and how many?
Will you personally handle my case – will you be the only attorney who works on the case? If not, who else will work on it? And what is THEIR experience level?
How long does it normally take for this case to be resolved?
How much will my case cost? Can I help do some of the work on the case to keep costs down?
Are there things I can and should do to improve my case, or to help you?
How will you keep me informed about the progress of my case? How will we communicate? How often?
If I contact your office with questions, how long do you take to return my call or email?
The “Costs” of Having And Not Having An Experienced Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer
What about the cost of an attorney?
What you should be asking is “what will be the “cost” of not having a good Colorado criminal defense lawyer?”
What I hear – week after week – from desperate individuals who cannot find work – lose a lease – do not qualify for student loans etc. is that their criminal conviction, their jail or prison sentence – or the onerous probation conditions placed upon them are having tragic, long-term, negative impacts on their lives – their employment – their families – their future. These “costs” not only can last many years, they may last a lifetime and easily exceed the monetary cost of a lawyer.
The need for a Colorado criminal defense lawyer is obviously never within an individual’s financial plans. It is not a line item in the budget – being charged with a crime is a crisis and requires crisis planning. However – if not handled properly, the long term costs of probation, jail, prison, extradition, possible deportation (in the case of a non-US citizen), and a permanent criminal conviction, far and away exceed the cost of a good , and therefore experienced, criminal defense attorney.
Why Hire THIS Colorado Criminal Defense Law Firm?
if you are charged with a crime or if you believe you are being investigated for a criminal act you MUST contact a top rated criminal defense attorney immediately. There are many good ones.
But Why hire this law firm?
When I take a case – I – and not an your associate lawyer – personally – see the case through from start to finish. And while facing criminal charges can be extremely intimidating, my 40 years of experience in the criminal courtrooms of Colorado give me the edge on experience… That is the seasoning of an expert – the experience that results from “living and working” in the courtroom day after day – week after week – and year after year – experience that cannot be duplicated in other contexts.
While hiring an experienced Colorado criminal defense lawyer has many direct positive effects on the success of your case, what follows are some concrete reasons to hire a good Colorado criminal defense law firm.
1. You are not alone.
A Colorado criminal defense attorney has one job – he or she – is YOUR advocate – yours and no one else’s. Their ONLY job is to defend you, to protect your constitutional rights, to give voice to your best interests, whether that is a plea bargain or an actual trial.
An experienced Colorado criminal defense attorney should take the time to understand you, your case, to assess the situation and to form a plan to take the steps necessary to reach the final goal – the maximum positive outcome for your case.
2. An experienced Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer is an expert in his or her field
An experienced Colorado Criminal defense attorney – ( at least 15+ years at a minimum) – has only one job: to defend the client against the criminal charges filed against them. They will devote their energy and their time solely to building a solid defense case on the client’s behalf. If they are experienced criminal defense attorneys – they will constantly educate themselves in the filed of Colorado criminal law – their specialty. They should practice only that field of law – here – Colorado criminal law – so they, over time, become experts in the COLORADO criminal court system and procedures.
The Colorado criminal court system has specific idiosyncracies that differ from district to district – county to county – city to city. Hiring a local criminal defense attorney familiar with the county or city where you are charged provides you with not only skilled legal representation but the wisdom to know what to do in THAT JURISDICTION.
3. You are probably not familiar with the possible long and short term punishments you may be facing.
You may not know what is at stake in your case. Every possible action available should be taken to ensure that you do not suffer more punishment than is necessary. If you believe you are innocent of the charges brought against you, or that you cannot be convicted or given a sentence – wake up. This is not the case. Prosecutors can sometimes be brutal – most of the time they wear blinders. DA’s (and I know this from personal experience – I WAS a Denver area DA for 13 years) are people who view their mission to prosecute alleged criminals almost as “a calling.” They will seek the heaviest penalty possible in almost every case. You need someone who will protect you against such injustice.
4. Retaining a Colorado Criminal Lawyer – Make the decision to retain counsel quickly – for several reasons.
The sooner you take action to begin the defense against the charges brought against you, the more likely you will have the best possible result. In the Colorado criminal justice system, the failure to act- is an action itself. Omission is taken as admission. The longer you wait to take action to retain legal representation for the defense, of your case, the longer you are allowing your prosecutors to strengthen their case against you.
Retaining the best Colorado criminal defense attorney you can afford must be the first step you take after being accused of a crime, any crime.
5. Retaining a Colorado criminal defense lawyer is a long term investment.
Retaining an experienced Colorado criminal attorney will most likely reduce the costs associated with criminal charges in the long run. The possibility of heavy fines, excessive court costs and other added fees, coupled with time away from your work and the chance to earn wages, quickly adds up in the long run impact of a criminal case. The lost wages as a result of a long sentence including prison time, exponentially increases the financial impact on you and your family.
The best criminal defense lawyer is the one who can “win” your case. A “win” in this context – is defined broadly as possibly plea to a lesser charge, a probationary sentence when there is a strong possibility of jail or prison, the suppression of evidence that could directly lead to a dismissal, and perhaps an outright acquittal at trial.
The determination of who qualifies as a good criminal defense lawyer is, in most circumstances, based on the end result.
The Irrational Thinking Behind “I Can Explain All This”
Many people are naive to believe that because they find themselves in this situation, they can get themselves – talk themselves – out of it and save the need to retain a lawyer. I receive dozens of cals every month from these people who greatly regret their decision to go it alone.
These individuals believe that even though they could not explain their innocence to the arresting officer, when they get to court, they can talk to the prosecutor or to the judge and ” it will all go away.” They end up taking the DA’s first offer to settle – take the conviction – pay the court costs and walk away. Years later that conviction returns again and again to wreak havoc in their lives. But they DID save the some money for a lawyer they never retained.
Conclusion
Good Colorado criminal defense lawyers love the challenge of representing and defending everyday people in court – every day. These are “people” because – not numbers – a point that is very often lost by prosecutors and police officers. These are good people – people with families and people whose lives are often at stake in this – otherwise – “routine” government case.
To these ‘people” the courtroom is unfamiliar territory and facing criminal charges is, quite frankly, very terrifying. I welcome and honesty love the challenge of helping my clients seek and achieve justice.
I place a premium on client communication and client trust. It is at the core of the firm values.
The Principles Of The Steinberg Colorado Criminal Defense Law Firm
• H. Michael Steinberg’s approach to providing legal service includes expecting and delivering exceptional results on behalf of our clients.
• He endeavors to be better prepared than the prosecutor – his adversary – and to deliver excellence in all work products that he provides.
• He works hard to be the most skilled and knowledgeable in his area of specialty – Colorado criminal law – the exclusive area of the law in which he practices.
• All experienced criminal defense lawyers know that plea bargaining is an art form. He always seeks to find creative yet aggressive client oriented solutions to what may appear to be insurmountable charges.
• While some law firms represent themselves as “pit bulls” – experienced Colorado criminal defense lawyers are courteous and respectful – not only with the Judge and the judge’s staff – but the prosecuting attorney and staff, and law enforcement. He believes that approach – the seasoned lawyer approach – produces the best results. The time to be aggressive is in trial – when all negotiations have terminated and the time to seek compromise is over.
When you make the most important decision in your life – selecting an attorney who will stand beside you through the worst set of circumstances in your life – the most important consideration to make is the results and quality of defense that your attorney will bring to your defense.
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Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyers
H. Michael Steinberg has been a Colorado criminal law specialist attorney for 40 years (as of 2013). For the first 13 years of his career, he was an Arapahoe – Douglas County District Attorney Senior prosecutor. In 1999 he formed his own law firm for the defense of Colorado criminal cases.
In addition to handling tens of thousands of cases in the criminal trial courts of Colorado, he has written hundreds of articles regarding the practice of Colorado criminal law and frequently provides legal analysis on radio and television, appearing on the Fox News Channel, CNN and Various National and Local Newspapers and Radio Stations. Please call him at your convenience at 720-220-2277.
In the Denver metropolitan area and throughout Colorado, attorney H. Michael Steinberg provides quality legal representation to those charged in Colorado adult and juvenile criminal matters.
H. Michael’s Primary Territory:
The Colorado Steinberg Criminal Defense Law Firm serves clients charged with criminal offenses in the Denver Metro Region and throughout Colorado, including Adams County, Arapahoe County, Boulder County, Broomfield County, Denver County, Douglas County, Jefferson County, Larimer County, El Paso County, Pueblo County, Weld County and Grand County; and communities such as ; Centennial, Denver, Boulder, Aurora, Lakewood, Littleton, Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Brighton, Greenwood Village, DTC, Denver Tech Center, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Englewood, Golden, Grand Junction and all across the Front Range.
If you have questions about Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyers in the Denver metropolitan area and throughout Colorado, attorney H. Michael Steinberg will be pleased to answer those questions and will provide quality legal representation to those charged in Colorado with adult and juvenile criminal matters as regards ..retaining the BEST Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyers.